Texas A&M has led us back down this road with their recent stated desire to flee the Big 12 and join the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

AP 2011Will Big East Commish John Marinatto have to react to the recent new rounds of conference expansion fever?

Wait a second.

Texas A&M has been three games over .500 the last 9 years (H/T to
ESPN's Pat Forde for the stat) and they WANT to jump into the lion's den and join the toughest conference in college football?

While on the surface it seems nuts, we all know why Texas A&M is doing this.

Despite the obvious answer of the piles of cash they are after, they are none too thrilled with their heated rivals at the University of Texas getting their own TV Network and being treated like kings by ESPN and the Big 12 Conference just to keep them there.

So, as the old expression goes, if you can't beat 'em, quit. And join the SEC.

Now, there is a little wrinkle in the story.

Texas A&M wants the SEC badly, but the SEC seems to be kicking the tires on Texas A&M a bit more.

“The SEC presidents and chancellors met today and reaffirmed our satisfaction with the present 12 institutional alignment,” Bernie Machen of Florida, the chairman of the SEC presidents, said. “We recognize, however, that future conditions may make it advantageous to expand the number of institutions in the league. We discussed criteria and process associated with expansion.”

So, yeah. They basically fixed a flood by putting a screen door in front of it.

There is even talk that Texas Gov. Rick Perry, an A&M grad who declared over the weekend he will seek the republican nomination for President in 2012, is behind all this.

Oh, it just keeps getting better!

So, what does all this mean for a Syracuse fan?

Do I even have to ask?

Let's say Texas A&M leaves the Big 12 for the SEC.

Well, that leaves a hole in the Big 12 they have to fill and they will have to raid another conference to do it.

Plus, the SEC isn't going to stand pat at 13 teams. They will need 14 teams if they go to 13.

So, does that mean sayyy Florida State, Clemson, or another ACC school would make the jump to the ACC?

If the ACC loses a school or two, ACC Commish John Swofford isn't just going to stand there and take it. He'll look to add/replace schools in his conference and where is a natural place to look for that?